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- [00:01]
Ashley
Insurance isn't one size fits all, and shopping for it shouldn't feel like squeezing into something that just doesn't fit. That's why drivers have enjoyed Progressive's name your price tool for years. With the name your price tool, you tell them what you want to pay and they show you options that fit your budget enough. Hunting for discounts, trying to calculate rates, and tinkering with coverages. Maybe you're picking out your very first policy, or maybe you're just looking for something that works better for you and your family. Either way, they make it simple to see your options. No guesswork, no surprises. Ready to see how easy and fun shopping for car insurance can be? Visit progressive.com and give the name your price tool a try. Take the stress out of shopping and find coverage that fits your life on your terms. Progressive Casualty Insurance Company and affiliates Price and coverage match limited by state law what they did to your family. You're lucky to make it out alive.
- [00:59]
Ricky
Streaming on Peacock these men are going
- [01:02]
Ashley
to come after me. Taking them out. It's my only chance. Put a bullet in her head from the co creator of Ozark. Looks like a family was running drugs execution style. Killing?
- [01:12]
Ricky
It's rare for the Keys.
- [01:13]
Ashley
Any leads on who they might have been running for? The cartel killed my family. I'm gonna kill them. All of them. MIA Streaming now only on Peacock. Your next chapter in healthcare starts at Carrington College's School of Nursing in Portland. Join us for our open house on Tuesday, January 13, 4 to 7pm you'll tour our campus, see live demos, meet instructors, and learn about our Associate Degree in Nursing program that prepares you to become a registered nurse. Take the first step toward your nursing career. Save your spot now at Carrington. Edu Events. For information on program outcomes, visit Carrington. Edu Sci.
- [02:00]
Ricky
Foreign.
- [02:11]
Ashley
The following episode contains intense and explicit descriptions of domestic violence, suicide, and a highly traumatic death involving fire.
- [02:20]
Ricky
The information presented in this episode is based on publicly available records, family statements, and alleged accounts. This podcast is for informational purposes only. We are not law enforcement, legal professionals, or medical experts, and we're not accusing anyone of any crimes. Listener discretion is advised.
- [02:41]
Ashley
I'm Ashley. And I'm Ricky, and you are listening to Crime Salad. February 8, 2018. It was brutally cold, even by Minnesota standards. The kind of cold where the air is sharp enough to sting your lungs the second you step outside. Temperatures had dropped well below minus 30, wind chill was hitting around minus 25, and snowbanks were piled 4 to 5ft high at the end of every driveway In Plymouth, Minnesota, doors stayed shut. Neighbors hadn't seen each other in weeks. And in one apartment building, while the silence and cold kept everyone in, a 24 year old man was burning alive inside his apartment. Police arrived, but they didn't go in for 38 minutes. He was in there alone, burned over 90% of his body. Blind from the smoke, choking on fumes, he eventually forced his way out, collapsed in the hallway and died hours later. His death was ruled a suicide before he was even pronounced dead. His name was David Elmquist and his family has spent the last six years saying that's not what happened.
- [04:03]
Ricky
And when you look at the available scene photos, the testimony, the investigation, or lack of one, it's hard to disagree with them.
- [04:13]
Ashley
Plymouth is one of those suburbs that regularly lands on the Money magazine's best places to live list. It's a city of cul de sacs, manicured lawns and a deep feeling of safety. It's about 10 miles west of Minneapolis. It's a hockey hair and SUV kind of town. People move there for the Wayzata school district in the massive Plymouth Community Center. It's the kind of place where the worst thing that could happen is a garage door freezing shut. But behind that image, something happened that this community and one family has never been able to move past. David was someone people gravitated toward. He was someone that people, people would remember long after meeting him. And a lot of people would describe David as funny, generous, the life of the party, but at the same time grounded. Someone who loved hard, worked hard, and had a really big presence in people's lives. Throughout David's 20s, he was still figuring things out. He made mistakes and he still had growing up to do. But he was doing that work to become someone he was proud of. And through that, David found something that gave him purpose. The Bakken oil fields in North Dakota.
- [05:30]
Ricky
And if you don't know what the Bakken is like, picture this. At night, the horizon is dotted with hundreds of natural gas flares that glow a haunting orange. The boom happened so fast that houses couldn't be built fast enough. So thousands of men were living in man camps. Massive clusters of modular trailers and skid shacks. It's 90% male. High stress fueled by massive paychecks and physical exhaustion. A 19 year old could make a 100 grand a year driving a truck. But a gallon of milk costs $8. And a one bedroom apartment runs more than one in downtown Manhattan. It's work hard, play harder, and the law feels miles away.
- [06:13]
Ashley
It's not easy Work. It's long weeks, brutal conditions, and physically exhausting labor. People either break or build something in themselves out there. And for David, it was that ladder. He loved it. He thrived in that environment, working long hours, sometimes side side with his older brother. And it gave him structure, responsibility, and a sense of identity. He even completely changed his lifestyle. He traded in his old Volkswagen Jetta and Sperry loafers for a fully loaded Ford pickup and muddy cowboy boots.
- [06:47]
Ricky
And you gotta think, at just 24 years old, David was making six figures. His company was already talking about promoting him to a rig operator, which says a lot about his work ethic and how he was viewed. But more than anything, he felt fulfilled. He wanted to live a quiet life and work hard. He was an athlete, a skier, just like his father. Someone who pushed himself, who chased momentum and kept moving forward. And he had a creative side that people don't expect. He loved art. One of the pieces his father cherishes most is a drawing David made called the Maze of Tennis.
- [07:24]
Ashley
And it's kind of perfect because it's layered, it's complex, and it's reflective of the way life works. It's not always hitting the perfect shot. It's about thinking it through, adjusting and finding a way out. And honestly, that's exactly where his family is right now. Things seemed to begin to unravel. In January of 2018, David experienced what his family described as his first mental breakdown, entering a state of psychosis. This was completely out of character for him. It was sudden and alarming enough that his family knew something wasn't right. Almost immediate, David had returned home to Minnesota from the oil fields and he was now married to his wife and the two were living together in Plymouth. They had been married for just 11 months. But during this episode, David's behavior became noticeably different. According to his wife, when she came home from work that Friday evening, she found David wearing only his underwear, reading the Bible out loud to his parents,
- [08:30]
Ricky
which was completely out of the ordinary for him. His wife was concerned when he was unresponsive to her, almost like he was in his own world, preoccupied with religious thoughts.
- [08:41]
Ashley
And at that point, his family made what David's wife described as a group decision to take him to the hospital, not because they thought that he was dangerous, but because they were just trying to figure out what was happening. Was it medical, psychological, or was it something else entirely? David was admitted to the hospital and placed under a 72 hour hold, which eventually became a civil commitment hold, requesting that he remain there until he was more stabilized. And by the time the hearing took place, David had already been in the hospital for about a week. And during that time, doctors began treating him with a medication called risperidone, which
- [09:22]
Ricky
is an antipsychotic commonly used for conditions like schizophrenia, bipolar disorder or acute psychotic episodes. At the dose, they had him on three milligrams taken at night. It's meant to stabilize mood, reduce delusions, and also has a sedative effect that helps patients sleep. And the reason that that matters here is because by all accounts, it was working.
- [09:46]
Ashley
It was. While in the hospital, David's condition improved significantly. He stated during the preliminary hearing that he believed that over the past years, his chemical imbalance between alcohol and marijuana had contributed to his mental state and he thought that the medication could help stabilize him. He said he had no intention of using alcohol or marijuana in the future. He stated he just wanted to live a quiet life with his wife. And his wife also testified to noticing a major change. She said that while he was in the hospital, David returned to his normal self. He was thinking clearly again and his mannerisms felt familiar. He was no longer preoccupied with religious thoughts. He was communicating normally and was open to getting help. It seems like he understood why he had been brought there and the importance of taking his medication going forward.
- [10:42]
Ricky
Even the examining doctor reviewing the situation said they did not see significant evidence that David was a danger to himself or others.
- [10:51]
Ashley
In fact, they stated they couldn't support continued commitment based on dangerousness. But they did note that there could be some risk if you return to a high stress work environment. So David was discharged from the hospital and he returned home with his wife, along with a one month supply of medication and instructions to continue treatment. He had even attended his first therapy appointment just two days before everything fell apart. On February 8th of 2018, just hours after a visit with his parents, multiple 911 calls started coming in from David and his wife's apartment building. One caller reported that someone was running through the building screaming. There was smoke and a fire that was getting worse. Another caller told dispatch that someone had started a fire on their floor. When officers arrived, the hallway outside David's apartment was already filling with smoke, top to bottom. The they tried to make contact, calling out to David, but there was no response.
- [11:53]
Ricky
And what they knew at that point was limited. According to the reports, they were told he might have knives and had started the fire himself. So they prepared for a potentially dangerous situation. But hold that thought, because who told them that? And exactly what was said becomes really important later.
- [12:11]
Ashley
After several minutes Officers breached the door, which was noted as unlocked. And inside visibility was almost non existent. Heavy smoke filled the apartment, but through it they could make out parts of the kitchen. On the stove was what appeared to be an oven mitt or a rag that was burning. As officers attempted to use the long pole to retrieve the burning item, through the smoke, a figure began to emerge. It was David. Before officers could react, he collapsed. They pulled him from the apartment, placed him on a stretcher and rushed him to the ambulance. 90% of his body was covered in horrible burns. In the hours that followed, investigators tried to piece together what happened inside that apartment. And one of the most detailed accounts came from his wife who talked to officers pretty soon after the incident. According to David's wife, the night started quietly. She was asleep when David woke her up just before 11pm he told her that she needed to go to her parents house and that it was time. At first she didn't fully understand what was happening. She thought he had been in the bedroom watching the news as he was when she fell asleep. But looking back, she believed he had been in the kitchen. And when he came into the room, she said he was naked. Repeating the same thing over and over, that she needed to leave.
- [13:38]
Ricky
And that's what she tells police. She goes from sound asleep to him waking her up naked, saying it's time. She continued explaining the details, how she got out of be walked into the kitchen to see what was going on. And that's when she noticed something wasn't right. David followed her back into the bedroom and took both of their phones. When she said she needed hers, he said he would give it back, but only after she left for her parents house. She agreed and started to get dressed. But as she moved through the apartment, she heard a splashing sound. And when she stepped out of the bedroom, she said she saw David pouring a brown liquid over his head. She realized it was oil. And then she noticed something else. The stove was on and the burners were lit. Behind him, she said was a long lighter, like the kind you would use for a grill.
- [14:28]
Ashley
At that point she ran back into the bedroom, grabbed a sweatshirt, came back out to try and stop what was happening. She said that she reached for the lighter, telling him that he didn't need to do this and it was going to be okay. But David kept repeating the same thing. It's time for you to leave. According to her statement, he grabbed her and some of the oil got on her arms and on her clothes. So she ran into the bathroom to try to wash it. Off, came back out, grabbed her phone and started yelling for help. Now, at one point, she said David covered her mouth, telling her no, but she was able to break away. So she grabbed a key from the near door, her phone, a sweatshirt, and got their dog. And. And she made it into the hallway and started screaming for help again. With the door to the apartment shutting behind her. And according to her locking, a neighbor came out asking what was going on, and she told him that David had oil and was trying to start a fire. The neighbor went back to his apartment door, opened it up, called out for his partner, and during that moment, the dog bolted inside the neighbor's apartment. She got the dog back, but it ran down the hallway, out the side door, and into the parking lot as smoke started to come from underneath David's apartment door.
- [15:43]
Ricky
So in the middle of this, the focus shifted from David to chasing down the dog. And earlier she said she ran into the bathroom to wash the oil off her hands before leaving. I don't know who am I to say, but in a moment like that, where someone you love is about to set themselves on fire, you stop and wash your hands. I don't know. That just feels weird to me. So to highlight her role in the relationship, according to her account, she's the one keeping him together. She's the caretaker, she's watching the medication, she's counting the pills. She also described David's hospitalization in January, telling investigators that he had been experiencing delusions, believing she was evil or out to get him, and that while he had been improving, there were concerns about whether he was consistently taking his medication. She told investigators while in the hospital, he had at times pretended to take his medicine, but he spit it out later. And after he was discharged, she tried to monitor it, making him take it and counting pills, trying to make sure he stayed on track.
- [16:50]
Ashley
And since we're talking about the nature of their relationship, David's wife said that over the course of their four year relationship, there had been a few incidents, usually tied to alcohol, where David became angry but never hurt her physically. There was one instance, she said, where he pushed her, but she emphasized that it had happened years earlier and never again Things had improved. He cut back on drinking and had been trying to get his life back on track. She also mentioned that shortly before his hospitalization, he had smoked marijuana habitually, something she believed may have contributed to what followed. So you may be thinking, was he drinking during this time? Well, David's wife would go on to say, on the night of February 8th, David was not under the influence of alcohol and. And she had been with him the entire evening. Aside from a few brief trips he made out to his car to retrieve items he had left in it, it had been a completely typical night for them since his hospitalization. And nothing caused her to think that he was under the influence of anything or was about to have another psychotic break. And as she was explaining this with the police, the interview abruptly ended. She was called to the hospital where David ultimately passed away from his injuries. The next day, investigators began processing the scene, and what they documented became central to how this case was ultimately classified. According to the crime lab report, there were multiple areas where what was described as a blood like substance was found. And it wasn't just inside the apartment, but it was also outside in the hallway, on the wall and on the floor. There was also what appeared to be an oil like substance. In those same areas. A fire extinguisher had been deployed in the hallway, and the apartment door was propped open just outside that door. More of that blood like substance was documented Inside the entryway. Investigators noted fire debris, what was described as suspected skin, A set of keys, and more blood on the floor. In the kitchen, they found a container believed to have held the oil. This was sitting on the counter near the stove. And both the kitchen and living room had a layer of soot. And throughout the apartment, there were multiple footprints marked by blood.
- [19:15]
Ricky
There were also signs of forced ventilation. A sliding glass door in the living room had been broken. A bedroom window shattered. Glass scattered across the floor with a hole torn through the screen. Investigators later confirmed that responding Officers had used 40 millimeter less lethal rounds to break those openings in an attempt to ventilate the apartment and clear the smoke. One of those rounds was found on the floor near the coffee table. Based on the totality of what they found, Investigators ultimately determined that David's death was the result of self immolation. In other words, they concluded he had set himself on fire. And at face value, everything that's been laid out so far, the psychosis, the wife's account, the oil, that seems like a reasonable conclusion.
- [20:05]
Ashley
It does. But for David's parents, Scott and Nancy, this didn't sit right at all. They found multiple reasons to question whether that conclusion is what really happened, A lot of important details that were either missing or inconsistent in the reports, and a story built almost entirely on one person's account, David's wife's. There was also a concern that David's recent mental health crisis shaped how investigators interpreted everything.
- [20:33]
Ricky
It became easier to explain what Happened as suicide without fully exploring other possibilities. Then, on top of that, 10 days later, David's sister reached out to police with something David himself had brought up. He had questioned whether his sudden mental health break could have been triggered by laced marijuana and said that the remaining marijuana or paraphernalia might still be in the apartment, According to the report. The officers noted that this was considered unlikely, but the information would be passed along.
- [21:06]
Ashley
But investigators kept gathering more and more information during this, and David's wife provided a second, more detailed statement on March 1, 2018. In that statement, she walked through the days leading up to February 8, painting a clearer picture of how quickly things escalated. She began by explaining that she and David had known each other since they were kids, around 8 or 9 years old. And on January 18th, David was sent home from work with co workers describing him as scatterbrained, saying things that didn't make sense. And when she got home that evening, she said, David seemed almost the opposite of how you would expect. Elated and upbeat, but his thoughts were all over the place. As the night went on, she said, he seemed to settle. He started to come back down and feel more like himself again. David's father even came over that night. He spent a couple hours with him. David's wife said that she went off to bed, and she doesn't know what they talked about. The next morning, things escalated when David insisted on driving his wife to work. Now, at first, she thought maybe the weather was bad, but then he told her that he believed the world was ending. They talked through it, and eventually he agreed that she could drive herself. But by the time she got to work, she already had six missed calls from him. And when she called him back, he said he just wanted to make sure she got there safely. Throughout the day, she kept checking in, texting him, and trying to understand what was going on. She even reached out to his employer, Speaking with his Boss for about 30 minutes, trying to piece together what happened the day before. So when she got home that evening and saw David was almost naked reading the bible to his parents, she checked their liquor cabinet and found that everything was unopened. David's parents gave him a drug test, and it did come back positive for thc. But according to his wife, that didn't surprise her.
- [23:06]
Ricky
And at the hospital, the doctors ran blood work and did a CT scan, and everything came back normal. So it wasn't something that they could point to medically.
- [23:16]
Ashley
On January 22, a doctor filed what's called a petition for judicial commitment, which
- [23:22]
Ricky
basically means a Doctor is going to the court and saying, this person needs to stay in a facility for treatment and I need the court to make it official.
- [23:31]
Ashley
Exactly. And the court approved it on January 29th. But just one day later, on January 30th, David's attorney turned around and filed to have that commitment dismissed.
- [23:44]
Ricky
So his lawyer is saying he doesn't need to be here anymore. Let him go.
- [23:48]
Ashley
Right. And the court agreed. They found that David was no longer in need of commitment. After that, things seemed to stabilize, at least on the surface. His wife said David was initially anxious about the idea of returning to the hospital, but he was making plans again. On January 31, they visited his parents and even talked about going skiing. The next day, he went to a hockey game. And while his wife said he made a few odd comments when she pointed them out, he seemed to recognize it, like he knew something wasn't quite right.
- [24:22]
Ricky
Which, honestly, that's kind of reassuring in a way. If someone can hear you say, hey, that's a little off and go, yeah, you're right. That feels like awareness. I mean, that feels like progression.
- [24:34]
Ashley
It did. And by February 6th, David was cleared to return to work. He worked a half day, then he went to a therapy appointment that afternoon. But after that appointment, his wife later learned that David had driven to the Association Free Lutheran Bible School in Plymouth, a place he had attended right after high school, but he never finished. He was asking about how he could complete his classes and graduate, and this
- [25:00]
Ricky
is out of nowhere. His wife said that that was unusual and something he wouldn't normally do. And when she asked him about it, he agreed. He said it was out of character and he couldn't even explain why he had gone there.
- [25:14]
Ashley
Right. And that's what makes this really hard to read from the outside, because when you're looking at everything on the surface, you've got these moments that genuinely look like perf progress therapy. He's going back to work, he's making plans with the family. But then, according to his wife, there's these flashes or episodes that he has where he's doing things he can't explain and you don't know which version is the real trajectory. And it's mind twisting because that's the window this whole case lives in. On March 22, the official cause of death report was finalized. David Almquist's cause of death was listed as thermal injuries and inhalation of products of combustion. The report noted other significant conditions, including a history of substance induced psychosis, an unspecified schizophrenia spectrum disorder, and cannabis use disorder. His manner of death was ruled a suicide.
- [26:14]
Ricky
The toxicology results showed no substances in David's system besides ketamine, which, according to paramedic reports, was administered by first responders to relieve his pain. So at his time of death, David was completely sober.
- [26:30]
Ashley
The autopsy that was completed on April 25 confirmed that, including a negative test for THC. There were also additional findings, abrasions on his scalp and areas of residue described as a yellow green substance on parts of his legs.
- [26:47]
Ricky
So keep that in mind. Clean tox screen, no thc, no substances besides what paramedics gave him. Because the cause of death report lists substance induced psychosis. That's a contradiction that's hard to ignore.
- [27:02]
Ashley
So by the end of April, investigators had reached their conclusions. But for David's parents, that wasn't the end of the story. Let's take a quick pause from today's case. So we talk a lot about breaking bad patterns on the show. And today I want to talk about upgrading a habit loop. So if you're trying to quit vaping or smoking or a bad habit, you probably know that cravings aren't just about nicotine, they're about the habit. It's that familiar hand to mouth motion, the oral fixation, or just needing that momentary pause in your day. And when that loop is broken, your craving spikes. And that's exactly where fum comes in, by the way. It's pronounced fume but spelled F u m. And it's a flavored air device. It's designed to help people quit vaping and smoking and breaking that bad habit, that hand to mouth pattern. It's simple, natural, and honestly, kind of genius. There's no nicotine, no batteries, no vapor. Instead, it's a weighted, twisty, fidgety, friendly tool that gives your hands something better to reach for when that craving shows up. And you know how we have these new goals, like New Year's resolutions and they can feel so easy by day one. But as those cravings hit, it hits you like a ton of bricks. On day five, fume completely helped interrupt that old pattern for me. The other day, I was deep into editing a crime salad episode and I felt like I just needed something, you know, and so I grabbed my fume instead. And it's just that satisfying little fidget moment is exactly what I needed. And that's why fume works so well. It gives your hands and your mouth something to do. It distracts your cravings. Without that nicotine vapor or even batteries drawing through a fume, it tastes great. Keep in mind that the flavors are lighter than vaping. Think of it kind of like a flavored water compared to a heavy soda. My absolute go to is the Crisp Mint, which is their strongest flavor and it's best for heavy users. But I also love the Peach Blush so don't just try to quit. Upgrade the habit loop. Reach for Fume instead. Fume has already helped over 700,000 people take steps toward better habits and now it's your turn. So when you grab a Journey pack, you'll also get a free gift just for using our Code salad head to tryfume.com that's T R Y F U-M dot com and use code Salad to claim your free gift today. Starting or growing your own business can be intimidating and lonely at times. Your to do list may feel endless with new tasks and lists can easily begin to overrun your life. So finding the right tool that not only helps you out but simplifies everything as a built in business partner can be a game changer for millions of businesses. That tool is Shopify. Shopify is the commerce platform behind millions of businesses around the world and 10% of all e commerce in the US from household names like Gymshark, Rare Beauty and Heinz to brands just getting started. Shopify has hundreds of ready to use templates that can help you build a beautiful online store that matches your brand style and you can tackle all the important tasks in one place, from inventory to payments to analytics and more. No need to save multiple websites or try to figure out what platform is hosting the tool that you need. And if people haven't heard about your brand, you can get the word out like you have a marketing team behind you with easy to run email and social media campaigns to reach customers wherever they're scrolling or strolling. Start your business today with the industry's best business partner, Shopify, and start hearing. Sign up for your $1 per month trial today at shopify.com realm. Go to shopify.com realm that's Shopify. Eczema is unpredictable, but you can flare less with Epglis, a once monthly treatment for moderate to severe eczema. After an initial four month or longer dosing phase, about four in ten people taking ebglis achieved itch relief and clear or almost clear skin at 16 weeks, and most of those people maintain skin that's still more clear at one year with monthly dosing.
- [31:22]
Ricky
MGLIS Lebricizumab, LBKZ, a 250 milligram per 2 milliliter injection in a prescription medicine used to treat adults and children 12 years of age and older who weigh at least 88 pounds or 40 kilograms with moderate to severe eczema, also called atopic dermatitis, that is not well controlled with prescription therapies used on the skin or topicals or who cannot use topical therapies. EBGLIS can be used with or without topical corticosteroids. Don't use if you are allergic to ebglis. Allergic reactions can occur that can be severe. Eye problems can occur. Tell your doctor if you have new or worsening eye problems. You should not receive a live vaccine when treated with Eglis. Before starting ebglis, tell your doctor if you have a parasitic infection.
- [31:56]
Ashley
Ask your doctor about evglis and visit evglis.lily.com or call 1-800-lilyrx or 1-800-545-5979. Now, it kind of seems like a cut and dry case, but we have a lot more to unpack here. In late April, the state fire marshal released their findings. And according to that report, David had poured oil all over his body and used the stovetop burners to ignite it. Investigators concluded that after the fire started, he continued moving throughout the apartment. The exact type of oil was never definitively confirmed, but according to David's wife, it may have been something he brought back from the oil fields in North Dakota, not something they kept in the apartment for everyday use. A supplemental report dated April 30 documented ongoing communication between investigators and David's father, Scott Elmquist. And throughout the investigation, Scott raised multiple concerns about how the case was handled and about what may have happened inside that apartment. One of the biggest officers remained outside for more than 30 minutes while David was still inside, gravely injured.
- [33:10]
Ricky
And I mean, think about that as a parent, you find out that first responders were on the scene and your son was in there for over half an hour. Of course you would want them to do everything they could. Now, according to official report, officers were responding to a potentially dangerous situation. Police aren't trained to handle fires and they don't have the equipment. On top of that, David's wife gave statements that David was dangerous and likely possessed a weapon. So based on what they were being told, they determined it wasn't safe to send firefighters in. But here's where it gets murky. When you actually read the police report, it's not crystal clear that they stayed outside the entire time. There's mentions of officers barricading themselves once they entered, notes that the door was unlocked, descriptions of how they discovered David. But no real discussion of that 30 plus minutes or specifically what kept them from going in sooner. And as far as a weapon, the reports mentioned David may possess knives, but to me, that reads more like there were knives in the apartment, which every apartment has knives. So what does that even mean?
- [34:21]
Ashley
Right, so it's a gray area, and I think you have to hold two things at once here. The officers were making real time decisions based on what they were being told, and a family lost their son and is looking at those same reports and seeing gaps. Both of those things can be true.
- [34:40]
Ricky
And then there's the blue object.
- [34:42]
Ashley
Yes. So according to Scott, David had an unknown blue object in his hand when he died. But the photos taken at the hospital didn't show David with anything in his hand. Officers on the scene also said David did not have anything in his hands when they brought him out of the apartment. But the report does note that there was a blue ballpoint pen laying on the kitchen floor unburned.
- [35:06]
Ricky
Unburned in a kitchen where cabinets melted. Scott also brought up how David's wife had provided varying accounts of the night David died, initially saying nothing was out of the ordinary, but later saying that David had showed signs of slipping into another psychosis. The lighter was in different locations between accounts. What the two of them were doing before the episode changed. The response in the report stated that although some details had varied, the main points of the story stayed the same. Same.
- [35:38]
Ashley
That's doing a lot of heavy lifting, because when the details around those main points keep shifting, it raises the question of which version is the truth. And then came what might be the most damning part of Scott's concerns. One day before his death, David went to visit his parents. Okay. And during that visit, he told them he wanted a divorce. And according to his parents, he didn't just say it casually. He described the marriage as toxic and claimed that his wife manipulated everything. When his mother asked what would happen if he went home and told her that, David reportedly said she would go ballistic. His parents said David had a plan that he was going to leave and move back in with them the very next day.
- [36:28]
Ricky
And just eight hours after that conversation, David was dead.
- [36:32]
Ashley
So with this information, we can now see why David's parents are not accepting a suicide as his cause of death. I mean, to them it doesn't match with the story. And I mean, put yourself in their shoes, you would be questioning the same things. But of course, there was no proving that this had any connection to do with David's tragic passing. So naturally, David's Parents are thinking about how their relationship was because you don't know, they could have had this big fight. David's like, I'm getting a divorce. I'm over it. So David's parents brought up how David was a vulnerable adult at the time of his death and that his wife failed to properly care for him. They thought back to memories of how she treated him, how she made scenes in public, how she flicked him in the face in front of people, how he seemed to walk on eggshells around her. But in the report, the officer rebutted that according to the hospital and legal statutes, David was not vulnerable when he was released and was able to provide his own basic needs. And that's just so frustrating for the family. Despite all of these concerns, on March 22, 2018, the official cause of death report was finalized and prosecutors made a formal decision, a declination to prosecute. No criminal charges would be filed. The potential charge under consideration was violent criminal neglect of a vulnerable adult. They didn't believe there was enough to move forward, and it stayed that way for four years while David's father fought to see the records, autopsy and photos for himself. Years later, on January 13, 2022, David's family took their concerns public. They created a Facebook page dedicated to his case, stating that its purpose was to bring attention to what they described as injustice, corruption, lies, manipulation and a cover up surrounding David's death. And their goal was to raise awareness and gather signatures for a petition calling on Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison to appoint an independent outside prosecutor to review the case.
- [38:47]
Ricky
And they weren't holding back. They said they planned to release everything audio recordings, apartment photos, autopsy photos, test testimony's emails, police reports, everything they had to prove that their son's death was not by his own hand.
- [39:02]
Ashley
In their public statement, the family described the case as bizarre, graphic and deeply heartbreaking, explaining that much of the information may be difficult to hear, but that they believed sharing it was necessary. They also stated that it took 32 months to receive the Plymouth police report and that reviewing it led them to believe there had to have been a cover up. They pointed to what they described as a lack of independence between law enforcement agencies in Hennepin county, suggesting that multiple agencies may have protected each other. Rather than fully investigating the case, the family specifically called for an outside prosecutor to examine both the conduct of David's former wife and the actions of the Plymouth Police Department. Their concerns were supported by what they described as forensic evidence, audio recordings, witness statements and extensive email correspondence. The family also shared their own Account of what happened the night David died. They stated that after being set on fire, David was eventually extinguished by a maintenance worker who never gave a formal statement to the police. David then remained inside that apartment for over 38 minutes, severely burned, unable to see, and struggling to breathe due to smoke inhalation. They claim that during this time, Firefighters were instructed to stand down and not enter the apartment, Based on his own wife's claims. They also disputed public assertions that David had been rescued by first responders. According to the family, David ultimately forced his way out of the apartment on his own, collapsed, and then was transported to the hospital.
- [40:46]
Ricky
And up until this point, when I first heard this story, I had into my head that it was eventually a first responder to assist David, but a maintenance worker? It's nuts, Let alone the fact that police never interviewed with him. Just a few days later, Scott started a petition for an independent investigation. And in that petition, he wrote something that stuck with me. That February 9th would have been four years since David died in what officials rolled a fire. Suicide. And he pointed out that self immolation is one of the rarest forms of suicide There is.
- [41:20]
Ashley
Is. And that's an important detail because something this rare should demand an equally thorough investigation. In the petition, Scott laid out the specific inconsistencies in the official findings, and there are several. So let's walk through them. First, the wrists. So Scott claimed that despite extensive burns covering 90% of David's body, there were two distinct areas on both wrists that weren't burns at all. This would be inconsistent with someone pouring accelerant over their entire body. And from the autopsy photos, there's a very clear and defined line starting on his arm that's completely unaffected. It's just weird. Like how.
- [42:07]
Ricky
And the medical examiner didn't document those areas in the autopsy report at all,
- [42:12]
Ashley
which I can confirm. I read the reports, and there is no mention of this unburned portion of David's arm at all. It was only brought up when David's father requested the autopsy photos and saw it for himself. And when he questioned the medical examiner about it, they suggested David may have been wearing gloves. Now, second, according to the petition, early statements initially said that David had a lighter and that there was a struggle over it. However, the lighter was never recovered and no physical evidence of it was ever documented. Scott also noted that in a later statement, it was claimed that the lighter had been found and moved, but it still doesn't appear in any scene documentation or police reports or anything. Third, the knife. This one's Interesting. So there's photos that show a clean knife where David was located with no soot, debris or bodily fluids. And Scott argued that due to the condition of David's hands, he wouldn't have been able to hold it. And he also claimed the knife appeared to have been moved after soot had settled and alleged that it may have been placed to support the idea that David posed a threat. Later reports state that the knife played no role in the incident.
- [43:32]
Ricky
And that's what I keep coming back to. The state fire marshal's report called the 38 minute delay a standoff. David is UNCLAD, burned over 90% of his body with inhalation burns, searing his throat and nose. The only way he's a threat is if he has a weapon.
- [43:50]
Ashley
So if that knife was in the room during a fire hot enough to burn David's body and melt the cabinets, how was that knife clean? If the air was so thick enough to choke a maintenance worker, how was there not a speck of ash on that blade?
- [44:06]
Ricky
Nobody answered that.
- [44:07]
Ashley
It makes you wonder. Now, here's another one. Fourth, the original statement from who Scott is calling the eyewitness claimed that David pushed her out, locked the door. However, the maintenance worker who entered the apartment reportedly stated the door was unlocked, it was open when he arrived, and all the police reports say the same thing. Scott questioned how the claim of a locked door was introduced if it was not reflected anywhere in the official record. Finally, Scott acknowledged that David had recently experienced a psychotic episode and had been hospitalized. However, he stated that David had been treated, stabilized on medication, and discharged with expectations of recovery. He also claimed that police photographed David's medical records at the scene and that his mental health history led to assumptions that impacted the investigation.
- [45:03]
Ricky
Which is the part that keeps bothering me, because in David's previous history, there was never a mention of danger to others. Actually, there was no significant evidence to determine that David was a danger to himself or others. And that's even backed up by his wife.
- [45:19]
Ashley
And it got attention fast. For the first time in nearly four years, Scott wrote that he felt like he could finally begin to grieve the loss of his son after years of fighting behind the scenes. The public support made their family feel less alone. And he thanked everyone who followed David's story but made it clear the battle had only begun. And honestly, it's moments like this that stay with you, because this family spent years carrying this weight, feeling like no one was listening. And then strangers show up. People who never knew David read his story and said, this matters. That kind of support, it doesn't fix anything. It doesn't bring him back. But for a father who's been fighting alone to finally feel like he's not. But I have to believe that it brought some kind of peace, even if it was just for a moment.
- [46:10]
Ricky
Yeah, and it probably gave him the fuel to keep going, too.
- [46:13]
Ashley
Exactly. As the Facebook page gained more traction, the family asked readers to consider a series of questions that no one had answered. And here they are. What would it mean to discover protected areas on both wrists of someone who had suffered extensive burns? What would it mean if those areas were not documented in the autopsy report? And what would it feel like to ask about those findings, only to be given a dismissive explanation?
- [46:44]
Ricky
And look, it's easy for people to hear psychosis and discount every other possibility. In the weeks leading up to his death, David experienced delusions, paranoia, maybe even hallucinations. But his family didn't feel like he was fully supported through that. They felt like he was treated poorly while experiencing these psychotic states.
- [47:05]
Ashley
And no matter what the conclusion of David's story is, it's clear that there are still unanswered questions, and his family deserves answers. David's parents have had to constantly relive this, looking over their own son's autopsy photos, consulting with professionals like forensic science investigators, hiring their own independent fire investigators, and reliving it all over again and again while explaining these facts to the public. And Scott wasn't even interested in accusing the person he believed was responsible for David's death. He was more interested in holding the agencies accountable that failed his son. He was now forced to share what happened the night they brought David to the hospital so that people could fully understand how vulnerable David was. On the night he died In January of 2018, Scott and his wife went to check on David after noticing unusual behavior. And David was not under the influence of drugs or alcohol at the time. While David was in a vulnerable state, on his hands and knees, his wife reportedly attempted to get his attention by slapping him across the face three times and shouting his name.
- [48:21]
Ricky
And as you can imagine, if you're a parent, David's parents were horrified, and this behavior was acknowledged in recorded statements by his wife. David, in that condition, was unable to defend himself. Scott went on to say that in his view, David's mental state at the time made him extremely susceptible to influence. He shared that he told a prosecutor he believed David was so vulnerable that he could have been persuaded to do almost anything. He hoped sharing this story would help people understand how vulnerable David Truly was the night that he died.
- [48:56]
Ashley
Yeah, and this alone raises a lot of questions. Did he do this to himself or was he pressured to cover himself in oil? Did she cover him in oil? I mean, at this point, nothing is proven. Exactly. From there, the family continued to share photos from the crime scene and the autopsy. And for years they reopened wounds constantly in an attempt to get more attention on the case. They shared photos of the scene inside David's apartment, referencing the official conclusion that David poured oil all over himself and lit himself on fire. They pointed to brown liquid on the floor, asking people to consider the areas of fire damage. Image the pattern of liquid on the floor and the cabinets and the condition of David's body, specifically the protected areas on both wrists. They also noted that the right side of David's body appeared more severely burned than the left side. And the family has shared a few photos of the scene on their Facebook page. But please be warned, this was a
- [49:59]
Ricky
horrific tragedy and that asymmetry matters. If one side of the body is significantly less burned, it means that side was against a surface or covered by something, which would completely contradict the idea of a person standing up and dousing themselves. Also, the initial report called the accelerant cooking oil, but it was later revised to a type of oil that may have come from the oil fields. The exact oil was never definitively confirmed, and depending on the type, it could behave very differently. Some crude oils from the Bakken are actually light and volatile hole closer to gasoline than what you would think of as thick crude. Others are heavier. Either way, the burn dynamics raise serious questions, especially without a confirmed accelerant.
- [50:49]
Ashley
And there were even more questions raised on the page about why both bedroom windows were open. On a record cold night in February, a statement from an officer reported deploying a round into the bedroom window, only to realize that the window was already open and the round only passed through the screen. Why? If David intended to take his own life, why would he have opened the windows beforehand? And why wouldn't there have been any oil or blood observed around the windows?
- [51:19]
Ricky
And it was what, around 5 degrees that night? The whole window thing is just strange. And then on top of that, they fired rounds into the window. They could have even shot David. Like what were they thinking? You're saying that you're shooting at a window to vent the smoke? I mean, I'm not an officer, but is that even typical practice? It just sounds like a cover up. It sounds far fetched. And then there's the fire itself. Despite earlier accounts referencing a lighter, the Final fire report concluded that within a reasonable degree of scientific certainty, the fire originated on the stove.
- [51:57]
Ashley
Stove.
- [51:58]
Ricky
So how did it spread? The way that they described moving from the stove area past freestanding oil and then intensifying in other parts of the apartment. And most of the knobs were still in place, with the exception of the one that had melted, which addresses the rumor that David had removed the stove knobs to prevent anyone from stopping the fire. But could the fire have really behaved the way that it was described? Or. Or were there additional factors, like the possibility of a second pour? This was suggested by another professional. I mean, there's more questions that need answers.
- [52:34]
Ashley
The family also provided more detail on David's medical history, especially from when he was admitted for his mental health crisis. David was a 24 year old male with no significant past medical history. Admitted for new onset psychosis. The notes indicated no prior history of anxiety or depression, no known psychiatric history and an unintentional 15 pound weight loss in the weeks leading up to hospitalization. The records also stated that David was able to speak in detail about the events leading up to his hospitalization. That he had recently smoked a new strain of marijuana. And he also questioned whether chemical exposure at work, including chlorine and epoxy, may have contributed to the symptoms. Symptoms he was experiencing.
- [53:22]
Ricky
And that's something worth taking seriously. Chronic exposure to certain epoxies and industrial chemicals have been documented to trigger neurological symptoms, including psychosis. Your brain can literally misfire because of a chemical load. Plus, the examining doctors in this case were actively concerned about him returning to work during his mental health commitment. Maybe that could have been part of what happened. But even so, he only went back to work for half a day after his release.
- [53:56]
Ashley
A 24 year old burning alive inside his own apartment. Police waited outside for 38 minutes. Was this an accident? A suicide? A specific section on both wrists unburned. Hours earlier, he would tell his parents that if his wife found out he was leaving, she would go ballistic. That's our episode. She'd go ballistic. The suspicious death of David Elmquist. This is Crime Salad. I'm Ashley.
- [54:20]
Ricky
I'm Ricky.
- [54:21]
Ashley
Search for Crime Salad wherever you listen. There are vampires out there. They're beside you in the darkness. But what people don't understand is that they're not monsters. They're just going to work living their un lives. But we are a dying breed. Those who came before me. They are fearful and are not content to sit back and just disappear. And they'll do anything to fix that. From the creators of Parkdale Haunt Comes Woodbine, a podcast about monsters, dreams and changes those you want and those you never saw. Coming Season 2 arrives September 24th. Distributed by Realm. Oh, please, not that music. That music gives me nightmares from my childhood.
- [55:00]
Ricky
Could we get something a little bit lighter? Some lighter music here?
- [55:03]
Ashley
Are you a fan of true crime TV shows? And what about Unsolved Mysteries, the show
- [55:08]
Ricky
that jump started all of our love of true crime?
- [55:11]
Ashley
I'm Ellen Marsh.
- [55:12]
Ricky
And I'm Joey Taranto.
- [55:14]
Ashley
And we host I Think Not, a true crime comedy podcast covering some of the wildest stories from your favorite true crime campy TV shows all the way to Unsolved Mysteries.
- [55:24]
Ricky
Baby, you will laugh, you will cry. You'll think about true crime in a whole new way.
- [55:28]
Ashley
And you'll also ask yourself, who gave these people mics? New episodes of I Think not are released every Wednesday, with bonus episodes out every Thursday on Patreon.
- [55:38]
Ricky
And every Monday you can listen to our True Crime rundown where we go over the top true crime headlines of the week.
- [55:45]
Ashley
So come and join us wherever you listen to your podcasts. So David's final diagnosis was unspecified schizophrenia, unspecified psychosis, not due to a substance or known psychological condition, and cannabis cannabis dependence uncomplicated. The term unspecified schizophrenia. It is used when symptoms are present but do not meet full criteria for a defined disorder within the schizophrenia spectrum. David was not definitively diagnosed with schizophrenia and the exact cause of his psychosis was never determined. So labeling David as very mentally ill based on a single episode of psychosis and a one week hospital stay was not an accurate reflection of who he was. And that's part of a broader concern about mental health stigma and the impact it can have on how people are perceived and treated.
- [56:47]
Ricky
And here's another inconsistency that doesn't get talked about enough in the hospital. They specifically said the psychosis was not due to a substance or known condition. But the autopsy report lists a history of substance induced psychosis. Those two things can't be true.
- [57:04]
Ashley
And not to mention the fact that David's mindset leading up to his death, I mean, according to everyone in his life, he was good. He acknowledged his past behaviors, including substance use, and he expressed his desire to change his lifestyle. He was even wanting to learn more about God and go to church and things like that. And even according to his wife's account, he had been sober since he left the hospital. To the best of her knowledge, David was actively engaging in his recovery and making plans for the future. Why else would he make plans to go back to school and finish his degree. Even if that was out of the ordinary for him, he was planning ahead. He wasn't planning to end his life. Regardless of any mental health diagnosis, David deserved to be treated with dignity, respect and equal value. And it's just hard to ignore the fact that mental health discrimination could have played a role in how his death was investigated. On the four year anniversary of David's death, readers were encouraged to take part in a 39 minute act of remembrance, to spend time doing something while thinking about David. This is the 39 minutes that David waited for help after the fire began. David died approximately three hours later, just before 3am and when you sit with
- [58:26]
Ricky
that 39 minutes, you start to understand why the family kept pointing people back to the evidence. Because the burn pattern tells a story too. In many cases of self immolation, burn patterns are typically consistent across the head and torso. But David's injuries were more severe on the right side of his body with a clear line separating the right from the left. That pattern supports the family's theory that David may have been at the kitchen sink with his wrists resting on it and his right side positioned near the dishwasher. That's not the burn pattern of someone who doused themselves and then stood there.
- [59:06]
Ashley
And the family begged people to look at the scene photos, to consider where the most fire damage appeared and whether it aligned with the report that the fire originated on the stove. With all of this, all parties involved should welcome a full and thorough investigation. And the family even said that if the official conclusion were accurate, they would be able to accept it. But the statements, the scene photos and observed injuries continued to raise questions. And the maintenance worker is another critical part of this. In the family's view, he was the only person who provided direct help to David during the incident. The initial state fire marshal's report indicated that no one saw the maintenance worker. But that maintenance worker was interviewed by both the fire marshal and later by David's father. And according to those statements, the maintenance worker responded to the fire alarm before police and firefighters arrived. He went upstairs and entered through an unlocked door. He put out a small fire in the kitchen and then saw David coming from the back bedroom area.
- [60:15]
Ricky
Coming from the back bedroom and described as lit up like a Christmas tree.
- [60:20]
Ashley
Yeah. And the maintenance worker extinguished the flames on David, but he had COPD and he was unable to remain inside due to the heavy smoke. So he ultimately had to leave the apartment without David.
- [60:33]
Ricky
So that raises the question, did officers know the fire was already out? Because if they did you're telling me that they believed a man burned over 90% of his body, could barely breathe, still posed a significant threat?
- [60:47]
Ashley
Yeah. And it kind of makes me wonder where the maintenance worker went after this incident. Like, obviously, he had trouble breathing, so he probably went to a clear area. Maybe he went outside. Did the police speak with him at all during that time? Like, I just distinguished a man who was on fire in his apartment room. Was that when the police went up there? I don't know. Like, there's some information that isn't very clear now. On March 8th of 2022, there was a post on the justice and Truth for David Facebook page, and it addressed a restraining order petition that had been filed against Scott by an individual he referred to as Ms. X. He stated that the request was ultimately dismissed and described the allegations within it as unfounded, specifically that Scott had allegedly shown up at her mother's residence on February 10, 2018, yelling and demanding answers. Scott disputed that account, providing his own version. He and Nancy went to the home shortly after David's death, encouraged by others to seek information about what had happened. And since Ms. X was at her mother's house with other family members, Scott asked if they could go to another room to talk privately. According to their account, Ms. X's mother told them no and to stay in the living room. Ultimately, Ms. X declined to talk about the incident. Her mother became upset, and Scott left and waited in the car while Nancy stayed inside for a few extra minutes. The only words that he spoke while in their house were, is there another room we can visit in? And Nancy, we need to leave. There were text messages between Ms. X and David's sister exchanged shortly after that visit, which reflected a much calmer interaction than what was alleged in the petition. There were also allegations of stalking, but according to Scott, GPS tracking data would clearly demonstrate this was also untrue.
- [62:47]
Ricky
So the restraining order gets dismissed, the allegations don't hold up. And it raises the question, what is this? Is this a pattern? Because if someone is filing unfounded legal petitions against a dead man's father, what else could she have lied about?
- [63:03]
Ashley
And that question was supported by something that happened before David's death during the court hearing related to his hospitalization. So during that hearing we talked about earlier, the judge stated that he hadn't decided whether he was going to let David out, emphasizing the importance of following medical advice, taking prescribed medication, and cooperating with Doctors under oath. Ms. X was asked whether she had prior concerns about David's mental health before the incident that led to his hospitalization. And she responded, no, no. This was the first time David had experienced an incident like this. But the family contrasted that testimony with what was described as an earlier statement made by Ms. X to a hospital screener on January 23rd. This is just six days prior. According to the medical record, she had reportedly described ongoing difficulty with communication, Lots of small weird things over the previous months, and more recent bizarre behavior in the week and a half leading up to the hospitalization.
- [64:09]
Ricky
Those are two completely different accounts. Under oath, she says no prior concerns. Six days earlier, she's telling a hospital screener about months of escalating issues. And this difference could have influenced the outcome of the hearing, because if the earlier concerns had been repeated in court, the judge may have made a different decision about David's release.
- [64:32]
Ashley
When David's father asked a senior hennepin county attorney whether that inconsistency rose to the level of perjury, the attorney responded that he could not say and suggested there could be multiple explanations.
- [64:45]
Ricky
That's not an answer. The question is whether what she said under oath was accurate. Multiple explanations is a way to avoid the question entirely.
- [64:55]
Ashley
Oh, yeah. And that's part of a bigger concern about how this case was handled, including whether potential inconsistencies in testimony were ever fully investigated. All of these concerns combined led Scott to write a public letter to Minnesota attorney general Keith Ellison requesting further action. And in the letter, Scott revisited the day of February 9, 2018, directing the attorney general to review the materials related to the case. He referenced that his initial petition had gained over 36,000 signatures calling for the appointment in the independent prosecutor. He formally requested that the attorney general work with governor Tim waltz to appoint an outside prosecutor and investigative team separate from hennepin county.
- [65:44]
Ricky
And he didn't just ask politely. Scott addressed the growing public support, Stated that continued attention could lead to further escalation, including the possibility of a public rally in Minneapolis, and questioned whether that level of politics, public pressure, should be necessary in order to receive justice for his son.
- [66:05]
Ashley
The letter expressed concerns about how the case had been handled at the county level and referenced other high profile cases in Minnesota where state leadership had intervened. He concluded by emphasizing the emotional toll on the family and reiterating their request for an independent review. In May of 2022, the Attorney General's office replied, indicating that they did not have authority over local police, police, or fire departments, and therefore they could not intervene. They referred to him back to hennepin county, the same county attorney's office that had already declined to prosecute.
- [66:43]
Ricky
So the county won't investigate, and the state says they can't. Where does the family go from here?
- [66:49]
Ashley
This was a disappointment, and obviously this made people question whether the materials and links Scott provided were even really reviewed, whether his claims were really listened to at all. Because the request had not been granted, the family moved forward with an aggressive campaign. There were plans for billboards in Minneapolis beginning June 27 calling for the resignation of the Hennepin county attorney. Additional billboards would follow in early July, directed at both the governor and the attorney general. In his response, Scott directly challenged the attorney general's position, questioning whether any authority existed within Minnesota to address potential misconduct at the county level. He argued that the situation involved serious allegations and again called on the attorney general to work with Governor Tim Waltz. Referencing similar actions taken in other cases, like George Floyd, Scott said that he was confident that no legislative body would stand in the way of the attorney general simply picking up the phone and asking Governor Waltz Waltz to appoint an outside prosecutor. And their family would continue their campaign if no action was taken. Around the same time, David's sister Amy launched a GoFundMe campaign to support the family's efforts. She described her father's ongoing work. The belief that David's death had not been fully or fairly investigated incited the same inconsistencies we've talked about today. The goal was to fund legal copy costs and public awareness initiatives. And she also noted that any excess funds would be donated to causes related to mental health, domestic violence, and victim advocacy. By June of 2022, the first billboard went up in downtown Minneapolis, asking Mike Freeman to resign. Along with the link to the petition, the family urged supporters to drive by, take photos and share them them. And within weeks, more billboards started to appear across Minneapolis, in St. Cloud, Darwin, Long Prairie and Clearwater, and even expanding into North Dakota.
- [68:58]
Ricky
And here's what it comes down to. David's death was never fully investigated, according to the police report, one the family says they didn't receive for 32 months. The case was ruled a suicide before David was even pronounced dead.
- [69:14]
Ashley
I mean, think about that. How could any thorough investigation have happened in the four hours between when police arrived and when David passed away? The investigation, according to the family, accepted one version of events without question, ignoring inconsistencies and failing to explore key details. So by October, the campaign had moved from billboards to the steps of the Minnesota State Capitol, where the family organized a public rally demanding the same thing they had been begging for all of 2022.
- [69:47]
Ricky
David wasn't a schizophrenic addict. He was the guy singing worship songs on the rig, the one keeping everyone upbeat during 80 hour work weeks. He loved the grit of the oil fields. He loved the money, the hard work, the brotherhood. He was actually planning a future there.
- [70:05]
Ashley
But according to his family, his wife wasn't willing to move there. So they stayed in Plymouth, something his family called the beginning of the end. They believe that uprooting was a mental health disaster for him. On the night he died, he wasn't talking about ending his life, according to his parents. He was talking about ending his marriage, even asking his parents to be there when he told her because she would, in his words, go ballistic. By 2024, with no response or action from the state officials, it had been six years since Scott and Nancy lost their son and his siblings lost their brother. The family was publicly calling out everyone, the lead detectives, the attorneys, the forensic specialists. All they wanted was answers to the questions that haunted them. And Scott believed that seemingly coherent individuals had made little attempt to do research and instead took the word of the police officer he was leaning into what he described as a moral and spiritual obligation to confront justice.
- [71:11]
Ricky
And that brings us to the forensic side, what the science should have caught. Most people think of pathologists as impartial scientists, but Scott points to a growing national conversation about forensic bias. That me's and police are two branches of the same tree. If the police tell the me this is a suicide, does the doctor start looking for a reason to agree? Dr. Andrew Baker, the same chief medical examiner from the George Floyd case, describes an autopsy as a robust data set, a head to toe, front to back, documentation of every scar, tattoo and injury.
- [71:50]
Ashley
And through all of that examination, two separate pathologists managed to miss the most conspicuous thing on his body, the perfectly horizontal protected bands on both wrists. The only skin on his entire body that wasn't burned.
- [72:06]
Ricky
And Scott said that if you aren't doing an autopsy to find the truth, you're just desecrating a body to check a box for the police.
- [72:14]
Ashley
David was 24 hours away from a new life. He was a son, a brother, and he deserved a 38 minute rescue instead of a 38 minute standoff. We haven't covered nearly everything in this case. The previous controversies around the same officials. Scott. Scott is calling to resign. All the scene images, audio recordings, further inconsistencies in David's wife's statements, and the history of Hennepin county, including its record of allegedly shielding police officers from accountability. David's father goes into extreme detail in a six part series where he explains everything. And if you want to hear about this case from the father himself at that level of detail from the source, we suggest that you listen to the Stacked Deck podcast.
- [73:02]
Ricky
Yeah, we only went over the bigger details and this podcast is very well done and information coming directly from Scott. We feel so heartbroken for this family. If you could please support them by listening and sharing their podcasts to spread the word, that would be awesome.
- [73:20]
Ashley
As of today, David's case remains ruled a suicide, but the family is still asking the same question they've been asking from the very beginning. What happened that night and how can these inconsistencies be explained? We encourage you to support this case any way you can by following the Truth and Justice for David Elmquist Facebook page and by signing the petition for an independent prosecutor, which is now over 41,000 signatures. Everything's in our show notes. If you want to support Crime Salad and keep episodes like this coming, you can grab some Crime Salad merch over@ Crimesaladpodcast Dashery.com and if you want to listen ad free, join us on patreon@patreon.com Crimesaladpodcast.
- [74:04]
Ricky
Thank you guys so much for listening.
- [74:07]
Ashley
Until next time, Reality TV is messy, pop culture is louder than ever, and the Internet completely unhinged. Welcome to Roxanne and Chantel the podcast where cousins Roxanne and Chantal break down reality tv, celebrity drama and the stories everyone's texting about. We recap the shows, spill the headlines and sit down with the stars themselves. No filter, no boring, takes just the tea. New episodes every week. If it's trending, we're talking about it. This is Roxanne and Chantel. Let's get into it.
- [75:11]
Ricky
The world of Sonic the Hedgehog has
- [75:13]
Ashley
been thrust into a not so dark, not so stormy, hard boiled detective story that probably nobody saw coming. Follow Sonic and the intrepid Chaotix Detective
- [75:25]
Ricky
Agency as they take on their biggest case yet.
- [75:29]
Ashley
This high flying, action packed adventure will take them across the world, fighting for every clue they can find. It's one heck of a tale. Which is good because this story might be the only thing that can save their lives.
- [75:47]
Ricky
Well, if that's all I can just dispose of you. Wait, what?
- [75:54]
Ashley
All will be revealed in Sonic the Hedgehog Presents the Chaotic Case Files. Listen now, wherever you get your podcasts, the Chaotics are on the case. For eight years we've been asking the same question over and over again. How did this happen? My name's Mandy. And I'm Melissa. And we're the hosts of Moms and Mysteries, the true crime podcast. With over 55 million downloads, we're two Florida moms who are obsessed with mysteries. Each week we do deep dives into fascinating true crime stories. We cover everything from infamous cases like Casey Anthony to the bizarre and complex crimes right here in our home state, like the shocking murder of FSU professor Dan Markell. We bring you the facts, but with warmth and width you'd only get from two friends who have been hooked on mysteries since childhood. Join us for new episodes of Moms and Mysteries every Tuesday and Thursday. Listen to Moms and Mysteries on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you get your podcast.
- [76:54]
Ricky
Ever open up your podcast app? Scroll forever and still not know what to listen to. And there are millions of podcasts and most of them, they just don't grab you. That's why I created Something you should know. Every episode is built around surprising, useful and fascinating ideas. We're consistently ranked in Apple's top 200 with thousands of five star reviews. But more importantly, people come back because they learn something interesting every time. If you're tired of searching and you just want something good to listen to, to try one episode of Something you should know right here on the platform you're listening on right now.